Today, I took the Jeep in to the shop for a much-needed oil change.
Yeah, yeah. I can almost hear you now…
“AuburnChick, I’m surprised you’re not changing the oil yourself given your penchant for do-it-yourself projects.”
This was a sentiment voiced by my friend, Rabbitrescuer, during our daily phone conversation this morning.
Let’s see…thus far in the last eight months, I’ve cleaned my lawn mower’s carburetor, installed a new doorbell, fixed a heating element in my oven, and taken apart the plumbing under my kitchen sink.
However, I draw the line at automotive repairs.
Chicky doesn’t do oil changes. I let the professionals handle this chore because, you see, I am a bit claustrophobic. The thought of getting under the Jeep does not sit well with me.
So, I took it in to the place I usually go, asking for the cheapest oil change.
Then I braced myself as I sat down to knit my time away.
I knew what was to come.
You know what I’m talking about.
“Ma’am, we looked at your vehicle, and we found a few things that need your attention.”
Of course you did, even though I told you I didn’t want the free maintenance inspection because 1) I wanted to get out of there as fast as I could because I had the day off and needed to run other errands, and 2) I didn’t want to listen to “The Spiel.”
I’m sure you’ve had to endure “The Spiel…” you know, when they try to sell you overpriced parts with inflated labor. I mean…$22 to fix my windshield wipers? Seriously? When I can buy them at my auto parts store and install them for free?
You’re talking to the Coupon Princess. You’re gonna be hard-pressed to squeeze out any extra money from my thin wallet.
Ugh.
Why, pray tell, do these blue-uniformed, black-shoed guys even attempt to upsell me? They should be used to hearing women defer to their husbands by now. I mean, what woman will, in her right mind, plop down $500 to fix a long list of repairs without checking with the man in her home?
I mean…if it was yarn, that would be a different story. Yarn is easy to understand. Sales people don’t lie to you about a yarn’s virtues. You can feel and see the yarn for yourself and know, instantly, if the yarn shop worker is telling the truth.
I always wonder when I’m getting my car fixed if the car REALLY needs what’s being done. Money makes the world go ’round, right?
Ugh.
As the guy presented his list today, my eyes glazed over.
Still, he yammered on.
The man didn’t have a clue that he had lost me when he said the word, “inspection.”
Ugh.
Henceforth, the Mr. will be charged car duty. I’ll take hard man-work like sitting on the couch watching TV any day over the car chore.
Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: car repairs | 2 Comments »
AuburnChick's Adventures 